NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick has hit out at the idea that the sport needs to replace Steve Phelps as commissioner.
Phelps stepped down from the role last month after the long legal battle between NASCAR and two of its teams, having taken a big reputational hit when texts he sent calling team owner Richard Childress a 'stupid redneck' who should be 'flogged'.
The role of commissioner had been specifically created for Phelps in March of last year, and speaking on his Happy Hour podcast this week, Harvick discussed Phelps' legacy and batted aside the idea that he should be replaced.
Echoing the thoughts of many at the time, the 2014 Cup Series champion admitted that 'someone had to take the fall' for the sport's loss of face around the 23XI and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit, despite his respect for Phelps' previous achievements.
Harvick: Someone had to go
“I think we all talk about our friends here and there that you might text some things that you don’t mean, but in the end, (the texts) came out in the court of law, and they became public information.
“I think Steve has done a lot of great things in our sport, but I don’t think from a fan perspective they can overcome the fact that he said those things about one of the most iconic figures in the sport. And save face.
“Somebody was going to have to take the fall in the end. Whether it was Steve Phelps or Jim France or Steve O’Donnell, whoever it was, and ultimately, it was the commissioner, Steve Phelps.
"And I mean, do we need a commissioner? I don’t think anybody wants to be like other sports; I don’t think we need a commissioner. I don’t want to hear about football. I don’t want to hear about anybody, we’re racing.”
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